Renewable-front washboard.



No. 879,761. PATENTED FEB; 18, 1908. W. G. FROST. RENEWABLE FRONTWASHBOARD.

APPLICATION FILED 00I'.13, 1906- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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PATENTED E B. 18 1908. W. G. FROST. E g RENEWABLE FRONT WASHBOARD.

APPLICATION FILED 001213, 1906.

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PATENT orrion.

WILLIAM G. FROST, OF BROAD RIPP LE, INDIANA.

RENEWABLE-FRONT WASHBOARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1908.

Application filed October 13. 1906. Serial No. 388.706.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. FRosT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Broad Rip )l'e, in the county of Marion and State of In iana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Renewable Front WVashboards; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to the class of washboards that are adapted to permit of the removal of the rubbing plate thereof when worn out, and the insertion of a new one in lieu thereof.

Objects of the invention are to provide a washboard of improved construction in which a simple and cheap form of rubbing plate may be employed as a removable part thereof, so as to be cheaply renewed; to provide a washboard adapted to permit of the removal or insertionof a rubbing plate by unskilled persons without the use of special tools, and to provide a washboard of the above-mentioned character which may be simply and cheaply constructed and be du rable and economical in use.

With the above-mentioned and minor objects in view the invention consists in a washboard comprising a frame having bearings, a back and a rubbing plate fitted together and supported removably on the bearings, and a novel locking key securing the back and the rubbing plate on the bearings; and, the invention consists further in the novel construction and combinations of parts or elements as hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding elements or features, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a washboard constructed substantially in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2, a rear elevation thereof; Fig. 3, a sectional view thereof on the line A Ain Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a sectional view of the frame of the wash board on the line A A in Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a sectional view of the complete washboard on the line B Bin Fig. 2; Fig. 6, a perspective view of the locking key; Fig. 7, a rear elevation of the washboard slightly modified so as to change the relative position of the locking key; Fig. 8, a sectional view on the line C C in Fig. 7; Fig. 9, a sectional view of the frame on the line C C in Fig. 7; Fig. 10, a sectional view of the back and the rubbing plate respectively, separated, as on the line C C in Fig. 7; Fig. 11, a front elevation of the washboard slightly modified so that the rubbing plate is inserted into the front of the frame instead of the back as shown in the preceding figures; Fig. 12, a rear elevation of the washboard shown in Fig. 11; Fig. 13, a sectional view on the line D D in Fig. 12; Fig. 14, a sectional view of the frame on the line D D in Fig. 12; Fig. 15, a sectional view of the frame alone on the line E E in Fig. 12; Fig. 16, a front elevation of a slightly modified form in which the position of the locking key is changed from that shown in Figs. 11 to 15; Fig. 17, a sectional view on the line F F in Fig. 16; Fig. 18, a sectional view of the frame on the line F F in Fig. 16; and, Fig. 19 is a sectional view of the frame alone on the line G Gin Fig. 16 looking up ward.

In construction the improved washboard comprises a frame that consists essentially of two upright side bars, the lower ends of which serve as legs for supporting the washboard in a tub when in use, two cross bars secured suitably to the side bars so as to form therewith a rigid support for holding the rubbing plate and the back therefor, and a soap box formed of the side bars, one of the cross bars, and a bottom and a head-piece secured suitably to the side bars, the side bars and the cross bars being adapted to be slightly modified, so that the rubbing plate may be inserted into the frame and secured therein in various ways, as may be desired, without sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. The modifications in the frame do not require any modification in either the rubbing plate, the back therefor, or the locking key.

In Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive the preferred construction is shown in which a and I) are the side bars; 0 the head piece on the upper ends of the side-bars; d, the uppermost crossbar extending from one side-bar to the other somewhat near the head-piece c and having a holding lip d towards the lower end of the frame; 6, the lowermost cross bar extending from one side bar to the other at a suitable distance from the cross bar d; and, f, the soap box bottom at the back of the frame extending from the at the rear thereof extending inner sides of the side-bars, as shown.

. the key head-piece c to the cross-bar d and from one side-bar to the other one. Each side-bar is provided at the front thereof with a guide bearing 9 extending approximately from the crossbar (Z to the cross-bar e and one bearing towards the other, for supporting the rubbing plate and its back, the bearings being formed preferably by rabbeting the he side-bars have each a lug h at the rear 32m thereof opposite to the cross-bar e for holding the locking key. The rubbing plate i rests on the bearings 9 against the cross-bar e, and the back rests against the back of the rubbing plate under the lip d of the crossbar'd and against the crossbar e. The key Z? extends across the rear or outer side of the back j between it and the lugs h, the key having preferably a wedge-shape, the lower edge 20 being of less thickness than the upper edge 21 thereof. The rubbing plate t has flanges 22 and 23 to embrace the ends of the back j, the latter preferably having stiffening cleats Z and m on the back thereof, which however, may be dispensed with if the back be made stiff enough without them.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 the uppermost crossbar n is s aced apart from the bottom f, and

I? is inserted between the cross-bar and the bottom of the soap-box to hold the rubbing plate and its back against the bearings g, the lowermost cross-bar 0 having a holding lip 0 adapted to hold the lower ends of the rubbing plate & and its back against the bearings g.

Figs. 11 to 15 inclusive show the frame modified to permit of the withdrawal of the rubbing plate from the front of the frame, which comprises side-bars p and 9 having each a bearing r at the rear side thereof for supporting the back j and the plate i, the uppermost cross-bar 8 having a holding lip s for holding the upper ends of the rubbing plate and its back against the bearings 1', the lowermost cross-bar t having a lip t to support the lower ends of the plate and its back, each side-bar being provided with a lug u to be engaged by the key it which secures the plate and its back in the frame.

In Figs. 16 to 19 inclusive the side-bars o andw are provided with the bearings r, and a lower cross-bar x is provided having a groove 24 in its upper side to receive the lower ends of the rubbing plate 7) and its back j, there being a plain upper cross-bar y near the lower edge of the bottom f, and the side-bars v and to have channels 25 and 25 therein in which rubbing plate and its back may be instantly removed from the frame, after which a new plate may be readily inserted and keyed in the frame.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A washboard comprising aframe with two side bars, a rubbing plate in the frame, and a wedge-shaped locking key comprising a bar having one of its longer sides inclined to the plane of the opposite longer side of the bar so that one longer edge is thinner than the other longer edge of the bar, the key extending from one to the other side bar and having its ends inserted removably in the side bars and normally locking the rubbing plate in the frame.

2. A washboard comprising a frame with side bars, bearings on the side bars, and a lower cross-bar; lugs on the side bars opposite to the cross-bar, a rubbing plate in the frame, anda locking key extending across the rubbing plate from one sidebar to another side bar and having its ends inserted between the lugs and the lower cross bar.

3. The herein-described improvement in washboards, comprising two side bars, bearings on the fronts of the side bars, an upper cross bar with a lip opposed'to the bearings, a lower cross bar, lugs on the side bars opposite to the lower cross bar, a rubbing plate on the bearings, a back board on the rubbing plate between it and the lip, and a locking key extending'against the back board from one side bar to the other side bar unattached to the back board and engaging the lugs onthe side bars, substantially as set forth.

4. Ina washboard, the combination with a frame having two side bars and two cross bars, a rubbing plate, and 'a back board in the frame, of a wedge-shaped locking key engaging the two side bars and one of the cross bars and locking the rubbing plate and the back board removably in the frame, said key being removable laterally away from the cross bar, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature. in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM G. FROST;

Witnesses JAMES B. MooRn, M. Y. CAMPBELL. 

